The Governor of New Mexico is, by turns, amiable, amused, self-deprecating, angry, contemptuous, and simply downright conflicted and ambivalent about the world around him. Sometimes Richardson calls himself an optimist. And there's lots of truth in that. The Governor will shrug his shoulders and smile, like when he notes that he was President Clinton's favorite diplomat to send on a tough mission because even "bad people like him." Good diplomats, of course, have to be flexible and open-minded, perhaps even of "two minds" on an issue, and Richardon's range of expressions reflects that.
The Governor also describes himself as a realist, which might explain why his most characteristic expression is actually a combination of a smile (optimist) and contempt (realist) — the corner of his mouth hovering, Mona Lisa like, in a state of ironic recognition of the difficulties the country faces and how the foibles of human nature can compound matters. Richardson can be angry; watch his mouth flare into an elongated, open funnel expressive of anger when he reminds voters that "Kids are dying." Given to movement when he lingers over a problem, Richardson's eyebrows will knit in concern as well. But it's the contempt softened by an understanding, patient smile that defines Richardson best.